Winter Media Trip 16/17. Haute Route in Valais. Destinations: Verbier, Val d Hérens Dates: Tuesday 4 th to Sunday 9 th April 2017

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1 Winter Media Trip 16/17 Haute Route in Valais Destinations: Verbier, Val d Hérens Dates: Tuesday 4 th to Sunday 9 th April 2017 Topics: Winter Haute Route, ski touring, mountain huts Max. 8 participants

2 Valais. A feeling of freedom In 1903, the first intrepid mountaineers linked Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps, with the Matterhorn, its most famous counterpart, by following a route that took in the Sonadon mountain pass and the Otemma Glacier. This now legendary trail is just one of many routes available in the heart of the majestic four-thousanders. In Valais, the options for ski touring in the high mountains are practically endless. Considerable differences in altitude, narrow ridges, imposing gorges, historic mountain passes: no matter which route you choose, the panoramic views are sure to take your breath away. Explore this unspoilt alpine paradise in the company of an experienced guide. Winter Haute Route Argentière Verbier Val d Hérens Valais has almost as many «Haute Routes» as it does ski trails. On the route linking Argentière to Val d Hérens via Verbier, as well as spending memorable evenings in mountain huts, you can expect to encounter stunning glacial landscapes, varied terrain and outstanding descents. To whet your appetite for the classic Haute Route, tackle part of the mythical Patrouille des Glaciers route that heads back in the opposite direction. An ideal trial run for less experienced tourers who are in good physical condition and able to ski in all types of snow. The Haute Route in Valais a unique moment at the heart of the Alps! Interview partners* - François Perraudin, mountain guide, photographer and author of the book «La Haute Route» - The various hut keepers along the route *Interviews can be organised according to journalists interest and availability of the speakers Conditions for taking part in this press trip: - You must be in very good physical shape and have the stamina and endurance to keep going for several hours a day over several days - You are able to ski in all types of snow - You have experience in ski touring or snowshoeing - You have the chance to hire ski touring boots at home and TRY THEM OUT BEFORE TACKLING THE HAUTE ROUTE (it is risky to set out for four days in boots hired locally)

3 Tuesday 4 th April 2017 Hello Valais! 16:00 Individual arrival of the participants in Martigny. Check-in (hotel to be confirmed). 17:00 Meet with your UIAGM mountain guide François Perraudin ( ) in the lobby of your hotel. 17:30 Material rental for the Haute Route 19:00 Welcome drink and presentation of the week program 19:30 Dinner in Martigny Overnight in Martigny

4 Wednesday 5 th April 2017 Haute Route stage 1 Argentière-Le Châble 6:30 Breakfast and check-out. Please leave your luggages at the hotel reception. A luggage transfer from Martigny to your hotel in Arolla-Val d Hérens, where you will spend the last night, will be organised. 7:30 Meet with your mountain guide in the lobby of your hotel (bring your backpack, your ski material and wear your ski clothes). Taxi transfer to Argentière (45 minutes). 8:30 Gondola up to Les Grands Montets 9:00 First ski descent and ascent of the Col du Passon (3 028m) and then Col du Tour (3 282m). Long descent on Trient Glacier before heading down to Champex-Lac (1 466m), reaching the Trient mountain hut. Taxi transfer to Le Châble (30 minutes). Route Argentière Grands Montets Col du Passon Col du Tour Trient Glacier Champex-Lac Le Châble // 6h to 7h for 1 100m ascent and 1 820m descent From 16:00 Check-in at Hotel A Lârze. 19:00 Dinner in Le Châble (restaurant to be confirmed) Overnight in Le Châble, Hotel A Larze* *according to the participants pace, to weather and snow conditions, the group may spend the night at Trient hut for safety reasons. This decision will be taken by the mountain guide on the day of that day.

5 Thursday 6 th April 2017 Haute Route stage 2 Le Châble-Prafleuri hut 8:00 Breakfast at your hotel and check-out. Possibility for refuelling (personal snacks) 9:00 Gondola up to Col des Gentianes (2 950m) From 10:00 Ascent of the Rosablanche peak (3 336m) via the Col de la Chaux (2 940m). Ski descent on the Prafleuri glacier until reaching the Prafleuri mountain hut (2 621m). Route Le Châble Col des Gentianes Col de la Chaux Glacier de Prafleuri Cabane de Prafleuri // 5h to 6h for 785m ascent and 915m descent 19:00 Half board and overnight at Prafleuri hut

6 Friday 7 th April 2017 Haute Route stage 3 Prafleuri-Cabane des Dix 7:00 Breakfast at the mountain hut. 8:00 Ascent of the Col des Roux (2 804m). Ski touring along the Lac des Dix and final ascent via Pas du Chat (2 372m) to reach the Cabane des Dix (2 928m). Itinéraire Cabane Prafleuri Col des Roux Pas du Chat Cabane des Dix // 4h to 5h for 730m ascent and 333m descent 19:00 Half board and overnight at Cabane des Dix

7 Saturday 8 th April 2017 Haute Route stage 4 Cabane des Dix-Arolla 7:00 Breakfast at the mountain hut. 8:00 Ascent of the Pigne d Arolla (3 796m), famous peak along the Haute Route, taking the classical itinerary of the «Mur de la Serpentine» on the way up. According to snow and weather conditions, the use of crampons may be required. Long descent to Arolla (1'998m). Route Dix mountain hut Mur de la Serpentine Pigne d Arolla Val d Hérens // 5h to 6h for 870m ascent and 1 798m descent From 15:00 From 16:00 Check-in at Grand Hotel & Kurhaus in Arolla. Your luggages will be at the reception. End of the Haute Route. Aperitif all together. Mountain guide will leave afterwards. 19:00 Dinner in Arolla (restaurant to be confirmed) Overnight in Arolla, Grand Hotel & Kurhaus

8 Dimanche 9 avril 2017 Val d Hérens 8:00 Breakfast at your hotel and check-out 10:01 Transfer by public bus to Les Haudères 10:25 Meet with Mireille Millier-Bourban ( ) at the bus stop. Guided visit of the mountain village of Les Haudères. 11:55 Transfer by public transportation to Martigny or to airports. 13:08 End of the program. Individual departure of the participants.

9 Matériel technique Backpack of minimum 30 litres Ski, poles and touring bindings with ski crampons and skins freshly glued Ski touring ski boots with vibram sole Adjusted crampons (on guide s request) Climbing harness Safety climbing hook and 2x 1m prussik cordes, 4mm diameter Avalanche probe and shovel Avalanche beacon (DVA) with new batteries Ice axe Headlamp Appropriate mountain gear (system of 3 layers with thermo-breathing, fleece and windbreak) Hat, warm gloves, glacier skiing sunglasses, spare clothing (not too much) Small piece of wax for wet snow Sunscreen Personnal medication Light sleeping bag liner Recommended: CAS member card, cash CHF and Euro, identity card, half-fare travelcard The following equipment can be rented in a sports shop: ski, skins, poles, crampons, avalanche set beacon-shovel-probe, ice ax, harness and climbing hooks Personal picnic to bring Personal snacks (2 days minimum). Possibility of refuelling in Le Châble. Daily picnic is provided in the mountain huts. Unbreakable thermos flask of minimum 0.8 litres Material not to bring Down sleeping bag Slippers or other shoes Big toilet bag Bring only the necessary and not the superfluous, it travels on your back!

10 Additional information for your article - Official Website of Valais/Wallis Promotion with thousands of ideas what to do in our region and news about Valais. Websites of the visited destinations: - Verbier/Val de Bagnes/La Tzoumaz - Val d Hérens Photos about Valais By accepting the terms and conditions under the following link you will get a login to our photo database : Insurance Insurance is up to participant s own responsibility. Social Media Share your Valais travel experiences with us: Twitter Instagram Facebook : Valais Wallis #Valais #MyWinterInValais

11 Contacts for your media trip Valais/Wallis Promotion Rue Pré Fleuri 6 CH-1951 Sion Fascination Alpes Rue de Prarreyer 53 CH 1947 Versegères Verbier Promotion SA Chemin des Marais Verts 9 CH-1936 Verbier Val d Hérens Tourisme Rue Principale 13 CH-1982 Euseigne Nancy Pellissier Media Management International Direct: Mobile : nancy.pellissier@valais.ch François Perraudin UIAGM mountain guide Direct: Mobile: frperraudin@dransnet.ch Vincent Riba Communication Manager Direct: Mobile : v.riba@verbierpromotion.ch Mireille Millier-Bourban Déléguée touristique Direct: Mobile : mireille.millier@valdherens.ch

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